"Sakura, glad you could make it," greeted Kakashi the moment Team Seven gathered before the designated place. Sakura blinked, surprised that her teacher would say such a thing. Her other two teammates eyed her curiously and seeing their curious stares, Kakashi eye-smiled and continued, "Well, just so you know, this test can only be completed in teams of three and no more or any less."
Satsuki's eyebrow twitched. "You dare…?"
Sakura smiled, placing a gentle hand on the other girl's shoulder to placate her. "I'm here now. And I definitely won't let any of you down!"
"That's my team!" said Kakashi cheerfully, clapping his hands together in the signature Shunshin jutsu. He looked at them with pride that made each one of them smile slightly. "Now go and make me proud!"
"Yeah!"
***
Haruto blinked curiously, tilting his head to the side to inspect the gathered Genins. "What're they getting so excited over?" he asked, pushing a few people away to get a better look. He was greeted to the sight of someone with a much-more terrible sense of fashion than him.
He knew a typical ninja wouldn't be wearing orange like he did but at least he was following the century; the only orange he was wearing was the orange t-shirt beneath his navy blue flak jacket—the Senju clan mark sewn on its back, signalling him as a proud member of the Senju–and there were orange strips down his black pants. Other than that, no orange but this kid dressed like a frog and would you look at those bushy brows?
Satsuki smirked. "Yeah. Like black caterpillars died on them."
Haruto choked back the loud and inappropriate laughter. He wiggled his brows which made the girl's smirk grow wider. "Wonder what's he doing there."
"Speaking of which," said Satsuki sharply when the crowd parted till Team Seven and Bushy Brows's team were left to crowd around the two arrogant ninjas. "Get out of the way, we have a test to take."
"Why, why, if it isn't the Uchiha princess," one of them sneered. "Too bad, kid, the answer's no."
"Yeah, we're stopping you guys here for your own good. You think punks like you can just stroll in and be Chunin?" The other guy jabbed a thumb at the scars on his face. "This is what we got when we took the test!"
It was Satsuki's turn to sneer cruelly. "Don't place us on the same rank as you. We're stronger than you. Now, fuck off."
Bandage-guy snarled, insulted. He lashed out his leg, "I'll show you that punks like you don't mess with people like us!"
Haruto scowled, unhappy as to how he'd treated Satsuki but the girl lashed back. Her leg would've connected with the guy's face had Bushy Brows not interfered. Haruto blinked, he didn't even see the kid move and here he was, stopping two powerful blows like it was nothing.
Satsuki retracted her leg, scowl firmly in place. She looked mildly impressed that someone was able to block her killer-kick but she managed to hide her surprise well; but there was a new light in her eyes, assessing again the threat level of Mister Bad Fashion Sense.
"There's no need to fight," Bushy Brows said, sounding rather mature despite his childish and joker appearance.
"He's right," agreed Sakura as she stepped forward. "This is nothing but a genjutsu, we're not at the third floor as is our meeting place. This is only the second floor."
"You go, girl," Haruto grinned, cheering his teammate on.
"Now if you'll excuse us," Sakura continued smugly. "We have a test to take on the upper floor."
Grumbles and embarrassed remarks followed but in the end, the crowd followed the flow and trudged up stairs. Just as Satsuki and Haruto made to leave, three people crowded their way.
Satsuki scowled, they were late as they were and these three were not making things easier. Her scowl grew heavier when she noticed the pale-colored-pupil boy before her. A Hyuga, her lips curled distastefully.
"What do you want?" she demanded rudely.
"Your name."
"Isn't it common courtesy to introduce yourself first, before you ask the name of another?" Satsuki scoffed rudely, brushing past him and gesturing for her teammates to follow. "Get lost, I don't have the time for you."
"Senju-san and Uchiha-san." While the Hyuuga boy was trembling with concealed rage, Bushy Brows, who seemed to be his teammate along with a bun-haired girl, didn't seem intent on giving up in interacting with them. Impatiently, Satsuki was about to told him to go screw himself when he continued, unperturbed with the deathly glare sent his way. "If I may, could I ask for one of you to give me a spar?"
Said Senju and Uchiha exchanged a glance, silent communication passing through them. Sakura wondered when did the both of them get to know one another so well that they managed to communicate without words as if they'd been a team for years instead of weeks.
"Make it quick," Satsuki scoffed. "He shouldn't be too much of a challenge."
****
Fifteen minutes later, Satsuki had to change her opinion on Bushy Brows who's actual name was Rock Lee. Her Sharingan was spinning wildly but strangely, she was unable to copy anything and she did not see him apply chakra into any jutsu—heck, he didn't even use jutsus, merely taijutsu. She wondered why didn't he use any ninjutsu or genjutsu he had in his arsenal?
"Haruto-kun…" Sakura was watching with her mouth wide-open; she couldn't believe that Haruto was being beaten around. Well, Haruto did manage to snatch Lee out of the air once and hurl him into the wall, creating a crater. But that was it and from there, the older boy seemed to be speeding up, growing faster while Haruto grew more tired.
Fed up, the redhead slammed his fist into the ground and roots sprouted out, catching and slapping Lee but unable to hurt him seriously. Haruto cursed; what was this guy? He thought he was a goofy kid but… "Gah!" Haruto was surprised when he was suddenly pulled off the ground and into the air by bandages. He didn't have time to turn his body before -
"Now, for the finishing move—Shadow of the Dancing Leaf !"
"LEE! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!"
—And Haruto found himself tumbling down to the ground. Just as he prepared himself to eat dirt, someone caught him by the waist none-too-gently. Even dazed and baffled, he registered the slender arms as Satsuki's. She lowered them both to the ground, she released him when they touched ground but she didn't move away. Sakura joined them not a moment too soon, concerned.
"Are you okay?" she asked dumbly.
Haruto scowled, patience thin when his pride took a serious blow. But his hands flew into seals for medical techniques and he was soon healing away the bruises. "Oi, Uchiha, what sort of technique did he use?"
"Just plain taijutsu."
Haruto blinked, his anger disappearing for a moment as a voice that was not Satsuki's answered him. He, along with both girls, looked up to see a larger and older version of Lee. He blanched, they could multiply? Yikes, disgusting! His expression could've been an open book but the Older Version of Lee didn't seem offended, instead he flashed them a blinding grin, his teeth shining so brightly they should come with a sign like, DO NOT LOOK TOO LONG, PERMANENT BLINDNESS MAY OCCUR .
He was dazed enough—Lee hit his head quite hard—that he giggled at his own thoughts. Satsuki looked at him as if he was insane but she didn't comment on it.
"LEE!" the man shouted passionately, tears streaming down his face. "Did I not forbid you from using that technique unless you are in danger?!"
Lee had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Guy-sensei."
"You have disappointed me greatly, Lee."
"I'm sorry, as punishment I shall run whole perimeter of Konoha a hundred times on my hands!"
"LEE!"
"GUY-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GUY-SENSEI!"
Haruto was ready to barf at any moment. "Get me away from here!" he screeched. I lost to this freak? he thought to himself. Unbelievable.
"Kai!" Sakura placed her hand in the signature dispel sign for genjutsu but the terrible sunset scene remained. It was just wrong to see a male teacher embrace his male student. Please, gah, urk, blargh.
"Let's just go," the Uchiha said, subdued.
"Won't Lee be late for the Chunin Exams then?"
"Let him be," Satsuki snapped, looking thoroughly scarred herself as she hauled Haruto to his feet, not complaining when he leaned heavily on her. "If we associate ourselves with those two… things any longer, I fear the disease will be contagious and we'll be infected."
Sakura grimaced at the thought, shivering. "And he proclaimed his love for Satsuki-chan before the battle! EW!"
Satsuki grimaced as well, balancing Haruto so that neither would stumble as they walk; for some reason, the idiot was leaning far too heavily on her. "I would rather marry Senju than him."
"Is that a compliment or what?" Said Senju asked, pouting but he didn't feel really insulted. regardless of what she said, he'd take it as a compliment anyway.
The Uchiha heiress snorted softly. "What do you think?"
Haruto smiled, leaning closer subtly to enjoy her warmth and closeness. Heh, he could get used to losing and having to lean on someone heavily. Well, as long as that someone is an Uchiha girl with the name Satsuki!